The girl in the photo on her wall blinked. Not one hour ago Alice had been having the time of her life, toasting her best friends birthday at one of her favorite restaurants, a cozy little place that sold primarily wine and tapas. She had been joking, laughing, and getting pleasantly tipsy, reminiscing about old stories and sharing new ones with her tight knit group of friends.

It was Sara's twenty-sixth birthday - Alice and Sara had been friends since primary school, and knew nearly everything about each other. Alice knew, for example, that Sara would insist she didn't want to do anything special for her birthday, but Alice knew that meant she really wanted to do something with just a few friends. She would gently chide Sara about the number of people being invited does not impact how special it is, but not tonight.

So Alice had taken it upon herself to invite Sara and her new boyfriend, Eddie, down to the restaurant. When the two arrived it was to Sara's little sister, Claire, their mutual friend Adam, and Sara's new friend from work, Tabatha, along with Alice herself, all singing a round of happy birthday. Alice hadn't actually met Tabatha yet before the party, but had gotten her contact information from Eddie, who had helped keep the party a secret, much to Alice's glee. Tabatha had seemed pleasant enough on the phone, and Alice was impressed when she offered to arrive early with her to help set up the balloons and presents.

The entire thing had been an absolute hit. Sara had been completely blindsided, and Alice could tell it was genuine. The food was delicious, the wine was amazing, and to top it off, Alice found that Tabatha and she were getting along like old friends. The ease of conversation, the quick jokes - it was quickly heading towards a perfect night out with friends.

Tabatha had also had an idea about what to do for gifts, so Sara was delighted to receive a new array of party and board games. It wasn't until Sara had finished thanking Alice for Cards Against Humanity, and opened Tabatha's gift that Alice felt a soft twinge of apprehension. Sara pulled a Ouija board, with the alphabet, numbers, yes and no carved into it, and the planchet - a fancy one with a brass ring holding the viewing glass.

"We should play!" Tabatha had happily responded to Sara's thanks, smiling her pearly white smile. "We can open another bottle of wine, and see if we can talk to the dead." Tabatha's tone was that of mocking fear when she referred to talking to the dead - her eyes, though, seemed to Alice to hold no humor or joy in the joke... of course, that's looking back.

They had played - Alice had tried to object, but was told that it was just in horror movies that you're supposed to be afraid of things like this. It's just a game, nothing more. Her own instincts had screamed at her not to go into Tabatha's house, even as her friends laughed and talked and entered without so much as a shiver. So, Alice had told herself it was all in her head, and that she would just enjoy the wine, and watch Sara and Tabatha, and whomever else wanted to partake have their fun. No need to be a party pooper, she had thought.

Tabatha had really set the scene. She made a point of ensuring everyone had turned their phones off and put them away so they wouldn't be tempted to let their minds, and concentration, wander. She had set out candles, and incense, turning off all electric lights and appliances... at least the ones you can turn off. Even though it was night, she had closed all the blinds. She had even made a little speech before beginning. Something along the lines of not being afraid of those on the other side, but to respect them. Alice thought she had really been hamming it up... still, it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

Tabatha had started with the normal questions, if such a thing exists for this type of moment. Was there anyone here who wanted to communicate, are there any spirits present, that sort of thing. At first, nothing, but after a few tries, not to Alice's surprise watching from the sidelines, the planchet inched over to yes.

With that the questions began. Is this someone we know? No. Will you tell us your name? No. Who do you want to speak to? Sara. Do you have a question for Sara? No. Do you want to say something to Sara? Yes.

Throughout the questions, of course, Sara, or Adam, or Eddie would pipe up with a "come on, really, who's moving it?" or "Come on, Sara, I can tell it's you." Each time Tabatha would shush them, and remind them they are talking to a spirit, and show respect. Each time she had to say it, her eyes seemed to get a little darker to Alice, though she was unsure the others noticed.

Before Tabatha could ask the spirit what it wanted to say to Sara, Claire gave a heavy sigh, and asked, "Tabatha, come on now, is that you, or what?"

The planchet moved so fast that everyone's fingers lost contact, moving to No, and slamming down on it once, twice, three times, before the little piece of glass shattered. As it did a gust seemed to push out from the board. As it touched Alice she felt a cold pass through her as though she was pressed up against cold cement on a winter day - sapped of warmth. It blew out the candles, and made all the lights and TV flicker like when lightning strikes close enough to your home to do the same. Over the various speakers, as the gust passed over them, an unearthly, deep, guttural voice seemed to be yelling no.

It happened fast - and as the flickering lights settled, everyone was left in the dark room, the bright wicks of freshly blown out candles fading to nothing. Alice blood seemed to be running cold in the dark, as the eerie silence following the enraged outburst seemed to be stretching on.

"Hello?" Alice first whispered, then cleared her voice and spoke, still softly, into the dark. At first nothing - not even breathing. Then Alice heard someone take in a long, deep breath, and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Pity" a voice responded in the dark. It was Tabatha's voice, of that Alice was certain, but she spoke slowly, and in a deeper register than Alice had heard before. "I had such high hopes."

Alice heard a snapping sound. When she did sparks appeared in the air around the room. The sparks began to dance around, swirling quickly, and coalescing into each other, tracing back through the smoke swirls in the air, before all meeting at the various candles, lighting them again - this all happened within the blink of an eye.

With light returned to the room, Alice could see her friends, still sitting around the Ouija board. They were all slumped, staring blankly, and Alice couldn't tell if they were breathing or not. All except Tabatha, who was staring directly at Alice. The cold chill Alice had felt earlier ran rampantly through her again, though this time it was accompanied by a rush of adrenaline - she was terrified. Tabatha's eyes had become inky black pools, with black tears streaking down over her now starkly white complexion.

Alice was frozen in fear. Her limbs were locked, her brain knowing she was in danger, but unable to start the metaphorical engine. She was as frozen as her blood felt in her veins - like a car that refuses to start in the winter cold, sputtering and turning over rather than roaring to much needed life.

The planchet started to dance on it's own in front of Tabatha. Both her and Alice looked down at it. Alice was not close enough to see what it was writing, but it seemed to be repeating itself over and over again. Tabatha, on the other hand, smiled at the board before looking slowly back up at Alice.

"It says run"

With that everyone at the table turned to look at Alice. Their eyes had all become the same inky black pits, and their skin seemed to be losing color right in front of her. One by one they began to smile pearly white smiles at Alice.

It wasn't until Sara's cold, wicked smile, directed at Alice, and the complete alien look on her face, that Alice brain finally slammed into gear. Alice let out a horrified shriek, feeling her voice wanting to rip from the effort. She scrambled backwards away from the scene and out into the hallway.

Before she could orient herself, Alice heard the room explode in a flurry of movement. At least one of them was following her into the blackness of the hallway, and someone else was running to the front door. Alice fumbled in the dark, trying to control her frantic breathing, trying not to let the scream she was caging behind her teeth out.

Her fingers, trying to use the wall and her fleeting memory of her walk through the house when arriving, fumbled upon a doorknob. She nearly cried with relief, and opened the door as quickly and quietly as she could. Carefully stepping inside, she found herself going down a step, and cursed inwardly as she realized this must be the stairs to the basement. Still, as other footsteps approached, Alice quickly pulled the door closed behind her, and let her fingers inspect the knob for a lock. She found one, and hit it - the click was loud, and movement on the other side of the door seemed to stop when it sounded.

After an achingly long pause, a soft set of knocks struck the door, and nearly sent Alice stumbling down the stairs in fright. It was Adam's voice, but he too was speaking slowly, and in a lower register. "Knock, Knock."

Alice didn't respond, but began backing slowly down the stairs. She was shaking so hard it rattled the handrail she was grasping. "Go away!" She all but screamed.

A thick, unpleasant laugh came from the other side of the door before it responded, "No, no... you're supposed to say... who's there... go on, Alice... say who's there?" Eddie drew on the last two words so they sounded mocking, almost sing-song.

"No!" Alice screamed back, her feet reaching the bottom of the staircase.

Her heart was nearly beating out of her chest, her breath was rapid, and though she could not see a thing, her eyes were wide open, looking for anything in the dark. Anything at all. Alice heard a loud click, and suddenly the basement light flicked to life. She could hear her friends breaking into uncontrollable laughter at the top of the stairs.

The basement was set up for a party, from the looks of it. More wine, the rest of the games everyone had gotten Sara, balloons... everything. Alice could feel the anger quickly replacing the fear she had been feeling. Those asshole - she had been really scared. She thought she might have a bloody heart attack.

"Alice... Alice... okay..." more laughter as Sara tried to speak, "We're sorry, but surprise!"

Alice glared daggers at the locked door, and began making her way back up as she yelled, "To hell with you - that was NOT funny."

"Oh come on now, Alice..." Eddie said, his voice still holding that quality of trying not to laugh. "It was just a joke - you should have seen your face!"

"Fuck off, Eddie." Alice responded, reaching the top of the stairs. She noticed Tabatha had placed pictures along the wall going down, now that she wasn't bathed in complete darkness, as she ascended the stairs.

"Okay, okay... but let us in now, Alice." Claire said, tittering again at the big joke.

Then Alice saw something that made her freeze, her fingers went numb, and her breathing hitched. The girl in the photo on her wall blinked. She watched in horror as the pearly white smile spread across the girls face.

"Let us in Alice." Sara said.

The End

Ken Cervantes

@Casith

Calgary, Alberta

Surprise Party

Casith